Electric locomotion.



H. VAN HOEVENBEBGH.

ELECTRIC LOGOMOTION.

Patented l-uly 18, I899.

(Application filed Aug. 31, 1897.)

ZSheets-Sheef I.

(No Model.)

IIIIHTTI l A By hiZZZzey WITNESSES m: upnm was $0., Pno'rauma. WASHINUTON, u. c.

Patented July l8, I899.

H. VAN HOEVENBERGH.

ELECTRIOLOCOMOTION.

(Application filed Aug. 31, 1897.)

2 Sheeis-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

R O T. N E W A M L 3 142's Aftomey UNITED STATES PATENT l OFFICE.

ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIONQ SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 628,968, dated July18, 1899.

Application filed August 31, 1897. Serial No. 650,147. (No model) To a whom it may concur/z Be it known that I, HENRY VAN HOEVEN BERGH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, county of New York, and State of N ewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Locomotion, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trolleys or currentcollectors for collecting current from supplyconductors and leading the same to electrically-propelled vehicles. The device is particularly adapted for service with motor-carriages, stages, or other vehiclesadapted to run on roadways not provided with railway-tracks of the kind described in a prior application filed, by me November 12, 1896, Serial No. 612,803. In devices of this character in which the trolley or current-collector is towed along the conductor by the driven vehicle it frequently happens, as when the vehicle suddenly increases in speed, thereby jerking the trolley, or when the collector runs along a downward inclineof the conductor, that the trolley runs ahead of the vehicle, creating a slack in the towing cord or conductor, and is given a sudden jerk when such slack is again taken up by movement of-the vehicle, creating a tendency to tear it away from the conductor or to interfere with its effective operation. My presentimprovements are directed to the'cure of this diificulty. In carrying them out I provide the trolley with a brake controlled by the towing cord or conductor in such a way that the brake will be applied to retard the move: ment of the trolley when the towing-cord becomes slack. I effect this result by mounting a V-shaped brake shoe or block in cooperative relation to the trolley-wheels. The brakeshoe is spring-impelled and is connected with the towing-conductors in such a way that when the latterare taut the trolley-wheels are free to revolve, but when slackened the brakeshoe is forced by the spring against the wheel or Wheels and the movement of the trolley impeded.

A further improvement consists in a rigid pivoted arm mounted on the lower part of the trolley-frame,'to which the towing-conductors are secured, such arm acting to preserve the trolley in an upright position on the supplyshaped arms or jaws, one of which, 2, is. piv-.

oted to the frame and the other of which, 1, is

integral therewith or. firmly secured thereto. On these arms, at their upper extremities, are

journaled the trollcywheels 3 4 3 4 set at 1 an angle toeach other, so as to meet upon and enbrace part of a supply-conductor 5, upon which the trolley rolls. The pivoted arm is provided with a lug 6, and an eatension of the frame carries a set-screw or key '7, by the adjustment of which the trolleymay be looked upon the conductor or. removed therefrom. The head of the screw is provided with a squared end to facilitate the use of a key mounted upon a staff. The brake-block 8, which is preferably provided with two V- shaped jaws, is pressed against the wheels by a leaf-spring 9, being secured to said spring at its center. One end of the spring may be secured to one of the pins, as 10*, to prevent forward thrust' of the brake block 8.

The ends of the spring bear upon studs 1010,

fixed to the trolley-frame. A cord or Wire 11 is secured to the spring or brake-block and passes through a hole drilled in the downwardly-projecting part of the frame. Journaled u p011 said downwardly-projecting part of the frame is a lateral tubular arm. 12, through which passes, but is insulated therefrom, the leading and towing conductors, which connect with the electric lnOiiOlNVllllCll drives the vehicle. The towing-conductor is preferably made in the form shown, comprising a central wire or wires 13, covered with a suitable insulating material and wound with a number of strands of fine wire, constituting the outer conductor 14. The conductor 13 is electrically connected with an insulated metal post 17 upon which is mounted an elasticallynected to the tube 12.

' or cord with a bell-crank lever 26, to which follow the vehicle.

yielding arm 18,which carries a collector-roller 19, adapted to engage the return supply-conductor 20.- The other conductor 14 is con- The arm 18 is springcontrolled and is mounted in .an insulated block 21, a coil-spring 22 having one terminal vconnected to the arm and the other terminal anchored in the insulating block. The f unction of the elasticallyyielding arm is the same as described in my prior application above referred to-namely, by folding in to permit the passage of an oppositely-moving trolley which rolls upon the companion conductor 20, continuity of connection with the driven motor being preserved by a metallic rail 21' in electric connection with the trolley-frame, which during the moment of passage of two oppositely-moving trolleys comes into contact with the roller of the yielding arm. The twin conductor, which leads from the trolley to the motor, is bent or flexed, as shown at 22, a cord 23 being connected to a slide 24,1nounted upon the tube. This slide is connected by a link is secured the cord or wire 11., which controls the brake-block.

With this organization the operation is as follows: The parts below the trolley'act as a counterbalance and maintain the trolley in an upright position, and the rigid arm 12 being able to swing over a complete circle tends to conserve its uprightness of position irrespective of the direction of draft of the towing-conductors. If the vehicle is running downhill and the trolley tends to move ahead by reason of the inclination of the supplyconductor, the slackness of the towing-conductor 22 permits the spring 9 to yield by drawing up the slide 24. The brake-shoes thus engage the trolley-wheels and arrest motion of the trolley. When the vehicle has moved forward sufficiently to again draw taut the towing-conductors, the brake-shoes will be withdrawn and the trolley permitted to Thus the trolley will always trail after the vehicle and will be continuously maintained in its best working position.

brake connected with and controlled by a flexible connection with the vehicle.

3. A trolley or current-collector for electrically-propelled vehicles provided with a brake-block, a flexible towing connection, and yielding connection between the two.

4:. A trolley or current-collector for electrically propelled vehicles provided with wheels to roll upon the upper conductor, a brake cooperative with the wheels, and a flexible towing connection with the vehicle adapted to release the brake when taut and set it when slack.

5. A trolley or current-collector for eleo trically propelled vehicles provided with wheels set at an angle to engage a supplywire, a spring actuated brake-block adapted to'engage both wheels, and a flexible connection with the vehicle controlling the action of the brake-block.

6. A trolley or current-collector for electrically-propelled vehicles provided with a spring-impelled brake adapted to arrest its movement along the supply-cond uctor, a flexible towing cord or conductor adapted to stretch when drawn taut, and connections with the towing cord or conductor for operating the brake.

' 7. A trolley or current-collector for electrically-propelled vehicles provided with a spring-impelled brake adapted to arrest its movement along the supply-conductor, and a vertically-pivoted arm beneath the trolley mounted to swing in a circle and maintain the trolley upright in all directions of strain substantially as described.

8. A trolley or current-collector for electrically-propelled vehicles provided with a spring-impelled brake adapted to arrest its movement along the supply-conductor, a vertically-pivoted arm beneath the trolley, a towing-cord connected to said arm, ayielding.

connection between the cord and arm, and connections with the brake for releasing it when the cord is drawn taut.

9. In a trolley or current-collector for electrically-propelled vehicles, the combination of wheels 3, 4, 3, 4, brake 8, arm 12, towing cord or conductor, lever 26 and connections between said lever and the brake and towingcord.

10. A trolley or current-collector for electrically-propelled vehicles provided with a frame connected with one supply-conductor, an insulated electrically-yielding contact con-. necting with a companion supply-conductor, and a pivoted arm mounted on the trolley, connecting the trolley frame and contact by separate paths to two leading wires of the vehicle. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 18th day of August, A. D. 1897.

HENRY VAN HOEVENBERGH.

Witnesses:

LILLIAN M. BRUCE, EMEROY B. CLIFFORD. 

